Vomiting bug outbreak isolates hospital

VISITING restrictions were in place at a Cork hospital last night following a major outbreak of the winter vomiting bug.

Management at the Mercy University Hospital suspended all visiting and cancelled all elective admissions following confirmation of the virus in the hospital.

A number of wards were affected. The movement of hospital staff, patients and other personnel is also being restricted.

The situation will be reviewed later today, according to a statement issued by the hospital last night.

The public was asked to stay away from the hospital to help prevent against the spread of the infection.

Patients in a critical condition can only be visited by next of kin and then only with the specific approval of the nurse in charge.

“The hospital is implementing isolation policies in order to restrict the outbreak and hopefully to prevent it from spreading further,” the statement said.

“The public is requested not to visit the A&E department unless they have had an accident or are experiencing a serious illness, but to attend their GP where possible.”

The Health Service

Executive Southern Area said other hospitals in the Cork University Hospital (CUH) network, including CUH and the South Infirmary-Victoria Hospital, were operating as normal.

However, they are expected to be under increased pressure as a result of the situation at the Mercy.